Famous quotes from American Civil War

[dh76513]

"I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me."

~Abraham Lincoln

[dh76513]

“All we ask is to be let alone.”

~Jefferson Davis

[Dog robber]

"My paramount object is to save the Union, and not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it. If I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.
 
"What I do about slavery and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save this Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I believe doing more will help the cause."
 [right]Lincoln to Horace Greeley[/right][right] [/right][left]
"I have heard, in such a way as to believe it, of your recently saying that both the army and the Government needed a dictator. Of course, it was not for this, but in spite of it, that I have given you the command. Only those generals who gain success can be dictators.[/left][left] [/left][left]"What I now ask of you is military success, and I will risk the dictatorship."[/left][right]Lincoln to Hooker[/right][right] [/right][left]"I don't care for John Pope one pinch of owl dung!"[/left][left] [/left][left]                                                                             Gen Samuel Sturgis[/left]

[ezzler]

"No pack of whining, snarling, ill-fed, vagabond street dogs ... ever more strongly produced the impression of forlorn, outcast, helpless, hopeless misery."

This quote by Frederick Law Olmsted describes the retreating Union Army after the First Battle of Bull Run.

[raven1]

I fights mit Sigel.
- A german immigrant in Sigel's division.

I runs with McDowell.
- In response, a soldier in McDowell's division.

[RERomine]

"Oh, I am heartily tired of hearing about what Lee is going to do. Some of you always seem to think he is suddenly going to turn a double somersault, and land in our rear and on both of our flanks at the same time. Go back to your command, and try to think what are we going to do ourselves, instead of what Lee is going to do." - Ulysses S. Grant

***************************

I'm not sure if this is an actual quote or not, but I've read and heard it before. Unfortunately, none of the sources where it is listed would I classify as "authoritative". It's listed in numerous web sites and I think it made it book two of the "North and South" miniseries, "Love and War". This may just be a case where historical fiction morphs into historical fact over time.

[Oldguard]

"Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." He added, after a pause, looking me full in the face: "That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave" - Gen. T. Jackson

[Twotribes]

And if the hot heads in South Carolina had not fired on Sumnter we have no way of knowing if Lincoln could have mustered the will of the North to war.

[Jonathan Palfrey]

Yes, I've sometimes wondered about that myself. Firing the first shots was unnecessary and (with the benefit of hindsight) most unwise.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

"Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees."

Last words of Tho. "Stonewall" Jackson

Well documented as I recall. Many were attending him at his death.

[Jonathan Palfrey]

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger
"They couldn't hit an elephant at this ra..."

I believe the correct quote is "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." He was shot soon after uttering the sentence, but not while he was uttering it.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

True. I had it correctly on the tag, but got tired of hearing that I should change it for impact, so I finally did. If I were to switch from the WWII forums to here, I will most assuredly change it back, if practicable.

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: Gil R.
Guilty. And a Yankees fan, to boot!

You could be forgiven for being a Yankee..., many fine folk are. But a "Yankees Fan" puts you beyond the pale.

[Gil R.]

Amazing that I was able to get away with that comment for so long...

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

Amazing that I was able to get away with that comment for so long...

Well, as a Cardinals fan who just finally recieved "payback" for the 1985 umpire robbery fiasco, I had to say something when you admitted such a sick and twisted personal flaw in your otherwise admirable character.

[Gil R.]

It wasn't all the umps' fault. I seem to remember "One Tough Dominican" having a meltdown...

[ColinWright]

ORIGINAL: sven6345789

How about a Joke (it is historical)

So Stonewall Jackson died and God send down his Angels to pick him up from the Grave and lift him up to heaven. The Angels came down and found his Grave. But Stonewall wasn't there. So they looked everywhere to find his Spirit but couldn't. Embarrassed, they returned to god to tell him about it, and when they reached Heaven, they found out that Gen. Jackson was already there. He had bypassed the Angels with a rapid flanking maneuver.

On that note, there's the one about Sheridan. He once commented that if he had a choice between hell and Texas, he would rent out Texas and live in hell.

Some historian then added that if only Sheridan's body could be disinterred and reburied in Texas, he could have both.

[ColinWright]

One of my favorites. A Confederate straggler, in about the same condition as the rest of Lee's army by that point, was cornered by some Union troops on the retreat that ended at Appomattox.

'Hands up, Reb: we got you.'

Raising his hands, the Confederate glances over himself. 'Yep -- and a hell of a git you got.'

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

It wasn't all the umps' fault. I seem to remember "One Tough Dominican" having a meltdown...

It was a meltdown all around. That was the same series which featured the fastest man in Baseball being run down by a 2 mph tarp roller. Couldn't buy a "break" in '85. Which is why I think of '06 (with every break falling our way) as a "deserved" payback. Tough Luck for the Detroit Fans though..., I can sympathize with them.

[Conhugeco]

ORIGINAL: raven1

I fights mit Sigel.
- A german immigrant in Sigel's division.

I runs with McDowell.
- In response, a soldier in McDowell's division.

I have always heard this one as: "I runs mit Howard."

I also like the quote by Grant in my signature. Edit: Oops, where's my signature?

DickH